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Play! Pokémon Glossary

Age Divisions

The Play! Pokémon program divides players into tournament
groups based on the year they were born. These groups are the Junior, Senior,
and Masters Divisions. Whenever possible, players are paired with other players
in the same age division. Prizes are typically awarded to the best players in
each age division.

Age-Modified Swiss Pairing

As an adjustment to the Swiss pairing system, players are paired both by record and
by age division. Players may be matched with players from other age divisions
in certain circumstances.

Age-Separated Swiss Pairing

When there are at least six players in each age division, a
tournament is typically split into pods. Each pod consists of players from a
single age division only. Each pod is run as a separate tournament, though the
results of all three pods are reported as a single tournament.

Best Finish Limits

To provide a more even playing field for the largest number
of competitors worldwide, each event series has a Best Finish Limit. If you
play in more events than the Best Finish Limit cap, your top performances will
be registered and the rest discarded.

Booster Draft

A booster draft is a Limited format tournament in which players are grouped into
smaller pods, usually consisting of eight players. Each player opens a booster
pack, secretly takes a single card from it, and passes the rest of the pack to
the next player in the pod, who then makes a selection. Players open and select
from several packs this way, and then build their decks for the event from
these cards. Further details on booster drafts can be found in the Official
Formats documents on the Tournament Rules and Resources page.

Bye

When there are an odd number of participants in a
tournament, a random player in the lowest match-record bracket in a round is
not paired with an opponent and is given an automatic win. This win is called a
bye.

Championship Points

Players are awarded Championship Points based on their
finish position or placement at individual events. Championship Points are needed
to qualify for some high-level events, including the annual Pokémon World
Championships. Note that TCG Championship Points and VG Championship Points are
considered separate and cannot be used across event types. Get details on Pokémon TCG or Video Game Championship Points for the current
season.

Championship Series event

A Premier Event such as the City Championships, National
Championships, or World Championships, in which players from different age
divisions compete for a title for their age division. Results for playing in
these events count toward a player's rating and ranking in the Play! Pokémon
system.

A deck of 60 cards that is built by the player in
preparation for an event, rather than built from cards received at an event.
Specifically required in the Constructed Deck format.

Deactivation

The suspension of Play! Pokémon privileges, including use of
the Player ID Card and participation in tournaments, Leagues, and Play! Pokémon
ratings and rankings. Deactivation may occur if the Pokémon Organized Play
program determines that a player violated the rules or compromised the values
of the Play! Pokémon program.

Deck List

All Pokémon TCG players are
required to complete a deck list before competing in a Play! Pokémon
competition. A deck list notes which cards and how many of each card are in the
player's deck, as well as what expansion each Pokémon card is from. Deck lists
may be available from the Tournament Organizer at an event, or you can use the
one on the Rules and Resources page.

Elo

The rating system that Play! Pokémon uses to calculate a
player's Premier Rating. It is based on the formula developed by Professor
Arpad Elo. Play! Pokémon's Elo rating system is similar to the system
originally used in most competitive chess events. A detailed explanation of
Play! Pokémon's Elo rating system can be found in the Ratings and Rankings
Explained document on the Tournament Rules and Resources page.

Event Locator

A Web-based tool that helps players find Play! Pokémon
events happening near them. Leagues, tournaments, and Premier Events like City
Championships can all be found using the Event Locator.

Flight

Players in very large
tournaments may initially be divided into similarly sized groups called flights
to make the tournament more manageable. After a certain number of rounds, top
players from each flight will be merged into a single flight or
single-elimination bracket.

Judge

A person who is well versed in the rules and strategies of
the Pokémon games and who is responsible for administering the rules of an
event, including the Tournament Rules.

Kicker

Additional Championship Points will be awarded at an event
if age division attendance meets a certain threshold, known as the Kicker. The
number of points awarded to an individual player does not change, but if the
Kicker is reached, points are awarded to more players. (For example: If an age
division has at least 8 players, the 3rd- and 4th-place finishers get points.
If an age division has at least 32 players, the 5th- through 8th-place
finishers get points.)

League

A casual event often held in local trading card game retail
stores or community centers, in which the Pokémon TCG and Pokémon video games
are played. Results for playing in these events do not count toward a player's
rating or ranking in the Play! Pokémon system. League events are sanctioned and
supported by The Pokémon Company International but organized and operated by independent
third parties.

League Challenge

A low-level Pokémon TCG Championship Series event designed
specifically to introduce newer players to the Championship Series and allow
players to earn Championship Points.

League Leader

A person who organizes and administers a League. This person is usually a fan of the Pokémon TCG
and/or Pokémon video games who wishes to give Pokémon players in their area an
opportunity to gather regularly. League Leaders are third parties independent
from The Pokémon Company International—that is, they are not employees, agents,
or independent contractors of The Pokémon Company International.

League Owner

A person who is ultimately responsible for everything that
takes place during their League sessions. League owners are third parties, such
as owners of a local trading card game retail store. They are independent from
The Pokémon Company International—that is, they are not employees, agents, or
independent contractors of The Pokémon Company International—and they allow
Leagues to be held at their locations.

Limited Format

Any tournament format in which all players receive the cards
they will use in the tournament at the event. Players may not use cards from
their collections for these events, but they do get to keep the cards they
receive for use in the tournament.

Match

A number of games played in a single round of a tournament.
A match may be a single game or best of three.

National Championships

A Championship Series event held annually in which players
compete in different age divisions to become the National Champion in their age
division. These events typically offer invitations to the Pokémon World Championships to top players.

Play! Points

Players are rewarded Play! Points simply for participating
in sanctioned Pokémon events, such as official Pokémon tournaments or League
events. Larger events such as Championship Series tournaments award even more
Play! Points. Play! Points are used to qualify players for high-level events.
Play! Points differ from Championship Points because they reward players just
for playing, while Championship Points reward players for high placement at
tournaments. Read the Play! Points FAQ for additional information on the current
season.

Play! Pokémon

The name of the program that encompasses all official
Pokémon Leagues and tournaments. This program is run by Pokémon Organized Play.

Player ID

Each player is assigned a Play! Pokémon Identification
Number (Player ID) that is used to track that player's tournament play and
League participation and to identify them in our system. Players must have this
number with them whenever they attend a Play! Pokémon event. If you don't
already have a Player ID, the organizer of your next Play! Pokémon event will
give you one. You can also get a Player ID online if you already have a Pokémon Trainer Club
account.

Pod

A competition may actually be
a cluster of smaller competitions known as pods. Pods are typically filled on a
first-come, first-served basis, and play begins once a pod is full. All pods
within a competition use the same rules and regulations. Pods are typically
used in non-Championship Series events such as side events.

Pokémon Organized Play (POP)

The governing body for all official Pokémon Leagues and
tournaments. POP maintains all player data, event data, and rules for use in
officially recognized events.

Pokémon Trainer Club

A registered account on Pokemon.com. Pokémon Trainer Club
members set preferences for their Play! Pokémon membership, including whether
or not to have their names and Play! Pokémon rankings listed on the website.
Before registering for a Pokémon Trainer Club account, please read our Privacy Policy
and Terms of
Use.

A low-level Pokémon Video Game Championship Series event
designed specifically to introduce newer players to the Championship Series and
allow players to earn Championship Points. Premier
Challenges do not require an invitation or qualification. All players in good
standing are welcome to participate.

Premier Event

A high-profile Play! Pokémon tournament, such as a
Championship Series event. With the exception of Prerelease events, results for
playing in these events count toward a player's Premier Rating and ranking in
the Play! Pokémon system and earn them Championship Points.

Premier Rating

This score is determined by a modified Elo method that
tracks player performance at all Premier Events. This can be used as a
tiebreaker at events and as a way for players to compare their performance to
that of their peers.

Premier Tournament Organizer (“PTO”)

An independent third party who organizes and operates a
Premier Event and who is not an employee, agent, or independent contractor of
The Pokémon Company International.

Prerelease Tournament

A tournament in which players have access to cards from an
upcoming Pokémon TCG expansion, usually held a week or two before that expansion
is available for retail sale. Prerelease tournaments always use the Limited
format.

Professor

Professors are dedicated fans of the Pokémon games who
contribute their time to organize events and teach new players the Pokémon TCG
and Pokémon video games. Because many Professors go on to judge at events, they
must demonstrate their rules knowledge and ability to organize events by first
passing a required exam. Professors are third parties independent from The
Pokémon Company International—that is, they are not employees, agents, or
independent contractors of The Pokémon Company International.

Ranking

The relative standing of an individual player, based on
Championship Points totals of all eligible players in a given group. The
rankings page posts your state, country, or worldwide ranking, so you can find
out, for example, if you're the third-best player in your state, or if you're
one of the the top 100 players in the world.

Rating

The standings of an eligible participant based upon the
number of points that participant earns by playing in sanctioned tournaments. A
player's rating fluctuates as they win and lose matches in sanctioned
tournaments. Only matches played against an opponent from the same age division
at Premier Events count toward a player's rating.

Regional Championships

A Championship Series event open to all eligible players in
which players compete in different age divisions to win the Regional Champion
title for that age division.

Round

All of the matches being played at one time during a
tournament. Each player participates in one match during each round of a
tournament. A tournament consists of a number of rounds based on the number of
players in that tournament.

A Limited tournament format in which players receive and
open several booster packs and build their decks from these cards. Further
details on Sealed Deck can be found in the Tournament Formats document, found
on the Tournament Rules and Resources page.

Side Events

Any tournament held on the same day as a larger event, often
picking up players after the main event has concluded.

Single Elimination

A pairing method in which players are eliminated from the
event when they lose. Swiss pairing events may shift to single-elimination finals
after a number of rounds. The last remaining undefeated player is the winner of
the tournament.

Standard Format

A tournament format that places restrictions on what cards
can be used in deck construction or what Pokémon and items can be used for team
construction. These restrictions can be found in the Tournament Formats
document on the Tournament Rules and Resources page.

State Championships

A Championship Series event open to all eligible players in
which players compete in different age divisions to win the State Champion
title for that age group.

Swiss Pairing

Matches for tournaments are set up using the Swiss pairing method.
In this method, all players in a tournament play in each round against an
opponent with a similar win/loss record. Players are not paired against
opponents they have previously played.

Team Sheet

Completing a team sheet may be
required to participate in some Pokémon video game tournaments. A team sheet
allows players to note the Pokémon, moves, and other traits of their teams.
Your Tournament Organizer will provide you with a team sheet to fill out if it
is required.

Theme Deck

A deck of 60 cards that is built by The Pokémon Company
International and packaged as a ready-to-play product.

Theme Deck Challenge

A Theme Deck Challenge is a non-sanctioned tournament in
which less experienced players are offered the opportunity to play with new
preconstructed theme decks rather than
boosters in the event. By playing in a Theme Deck Challenge, players are
afforded a more simple play format where they don't have to build a deck from
cards they have never seen before, making this an ideal format for younger or
less experienced players.

Top Cut

A general term for the final rounds of single-elimination
play in a competition, including the finals. The top cut typically takes place
after the conclusion of Swiss rounds.

Tournament

A generic term for competitive Play! Pokémon events.

Tournament Format

The rules and restrictions on card selection and deck
construction for TCG events and the Pokémon and items allowed when building a
team for video game events are as specified by the tournament's format. The
format also dictates how many games are played, how much time is allowed for
each game, and how these games are to be resolved.

Tournament Operations Manager (“TOM”)

The official computer program used by Tournament Organizers
to administer sanctioned Play! Pokémon tournaments.

Tournament Organizer (“TO”)

The person in charge of all organizational aspects of a
tournament and who typically handles staffing, scheduling and venue selection.
This person is ultimately responsible for all aspects of running a successful
tournament.

Tournament Rules

The rules established by the Pokémon Organized Play staff.
These rules must be followed at tournaments by Play! Pokémon players,
Tournament Organizers, Judges, and others in order for the event to be a Play!
Pokémon sanctioned event. The Tournament Rules are found on the Tournament Rules and Resources page.

Unlimited

A tournament format allowing the use of all authentic
Pokémon TCG cards ever printed. Unlimited is classified as a Fun format.

World Championships

The ultimate Play! Pokémon Championship Series event of the
year. Players earn invitations to this tournament by earning Championship Points
at Premier Events held earlier in the year. Players compete in different age
divisions to become the sole World Champion in their age division.

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